How to Discover New Music Genres

As I've gotten older, my musical horizon has expanded significantly. I'm still a young guy, but I can't listen to the same music I used to a few years ago, at least not as much. There are two things that make us enjoy music; unity and variety. Unity provides something steady, like a certain beat or melody. It makes us comfortable. Variety, on the other hand, provide something different that keeps us intrigued. My ears need variety more than unity. If you're like me, I've got some tips to satisfy that need.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. There are so many ways to discover new musical genres, if you know what type of rhythms you enjoy you're job is halfway done. While it is fully possible for one person to enjoy Andrea Boccelli's music as well as 50 Cent, that person probably litens to the different music styles depending on what they're doing or what mood they're in. For example, 50 Cent in the gym or at a party, and Andrea while reading a book or taking a bath (just random examples, work with me people).

2. Back to the point. If you're an aspiring all-eater of music, start exposing yourself to new things. It doesn't have to be buying a random CD from the opposite side of the record store you usually go to (by the way, do people still go to record stores?) because that can end badly. You don't want to spend $20 for a crappy CD.

3. If you live in an area where there are a lot of live music present at bars and restaurants, go check it out. It's usually free if you eat something, and everybody has to eat, so why not kill two birds with one stone?

4. If you want to make it even easier for yourself, go rent a movie from the international section. World music is coming on big these days, go straight to the source. Indian movies always have lots of song and dance in them, and the movies are usually pretty good as well.

5. If you hear a song you like during a movie (any movie, not just foreign) check out the soundtrack online. CDnow.com lets you preview around 30 seconds of most songs on the CDs they sell. If there's something you like, write down the artist's name and search for more music by them.

6. A lot of times you're just going to stumble into a new type of music and it's going to be like an epiphany. Hey! This music is REALLY good! Why haven't I heard this before?

7. Dig deep into the genre. Don't settle for the most commercial and famous artist, look for the ones that made the genre what it is today. It's definitely hard in the beginning, because you don't know where to look, but the payoff is great when you find the heart and soul of a genre.

8. Here are some examples of how I found some new types of music to listen to.
   * Italian music - I was watching Ocean's 12 and the song that was playing in the background (Ornella Vanoni- L'appuntamento) of the opening scene where Brad Pitt runs past Cathrine Zeta-Jones at a cafe...it just snuck up on me.
   * Arabic music - Sting's song "Desert Rose" features Algerian singer Cheb Mami, who is a very good artist in his own, I discovered.
   * Brazilian music - I practice capoeira and got introduced to the AMAZING music from that country. Gilberto Gil, Seu Jorge, Sergio Mendes...the list is endless.

Tips & Warnings

• Be creative, keep your ears open and keep an open mind.
• Don't reject an entire genre because of one artist, give it an honest chance.

[solidlady09]

on 8/1/2009 nice article 5 stars and a recommend